Amusement apparatus



Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,669

P. A.4 LALLE ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July '7, 1921 4 sheetsfsheet l Apr. 3, 1923,

P. A. LALLE ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July.'7, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 2 APY-3519,23.. y r

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Apr. 3,

w65" .mobewn Patented Apr. 3, 1923.y

T E S Unirse sr 1,450.6@` PATENT icarrer..l

PETER A. LALLE AND CLAUDE F. FOWLER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK,` ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO SEBASTIAN L. PETRINO, BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AMU'SEMENT APPARATUS.

i Application led July 7,

To aZZ whom t may concern.' y

Be it known that we, PETERA. LALLE and CLAUDE F. FowLnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have inventracing formation and adapted tobe proj pelled tracks.

jAnotler object of our invention is to embody in the apparatus, a truck, an' electric motor carried thereby, a track associated with a third or Contact and means to along correspondingly' trending automatically stop the truck when comingk in contact with a truck ahead.k

Another object' of our invention is the provision of an amusement apparatus in which two or more traveling units may travel on each track and which is equipped with mea-ns to automatically shut off the power fordriving each traveling unit when it comes in contact with one preceding it.

A further object is to provide means for simultaneously shutting off the power .and

applying brake mechanism to each unitk when the front end thereof comes in contact with t-he` traveling unit ahead on the same track.

A still further object is to provide novel means for setting the passenger mount in motion when the traveling unit is moved along the track.

A still further object is to so construct the passenger mount that the weight carried thereby is diverted from 'the mechanism which places the mount in motion.

A still further object is to provide means controlled by an attendant to stop each unit and simultaneously shut off the power there` from when there appears to be a probability of a rear end collision of traveling units on the same track.

AV still further object is'k to provide adevice of this kind having a. plurality 0f parallel tracks, a platform covering said tracks,

1921.' serial No. 483,028.

and traveling units movable along said tracksand controlled fromv a fixed station y having means for cutting out` any one of said units.

.Vith the above and other. objects in view to appear hereinafter, the invention consistsinan amusement device having parallel tracks, and traveling units arranged in racing formation, including passenger mount;l

preferably in the form of horses.

`It further consists in means for auto-H matically braking each traveling unit when it comes in contact withthe rear end of ay unit ahead on the same track; also in means for cutting off the power at such times.

It further consists4 in means for' stopping each traveling unit and simultaneously shutting off the power therefrom to prevent rear end collisions of traveling units on the ysame track.

It further consists in so ysupporting they passenger mount that the weight thereof and of the passenger mounted thereon is'not imparted to the mechanism, and in each mount individual movement and it still further consists 1n the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described'and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims. 7 n'the drawings 5 Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a portion of the apparatus.

-Fig 2'is an enlarged taken online 2.-2, Fig. l. l

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of one `of the trucks of the apparatus and the track.

and third rail associated therewith. l Fig. 4L is a detached perspective yview of a .portion ofthe automatic brake and cut-out mechanism. h H y Fig. 5 is perspective #view of a. portion of the cut-out mechanism. f

Fig. 6 is a` transverse section throughthe roller contact .forming part of the `automaticv cut-out mechanism. f y Fig. 7 is an enlargedy section takenon line 7-7, Fig. 6. y ,v Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section tekenen line ,8-8, Fig. 3.v

Fig. 9' is Van enlarged .transverse section transverse `section having full view of the tracks at allpoints thereof.

In thedrawings the tracks are designated by the numerals 12, 13, 14,15, and 16, each track comprising two rails. 7 e have shown five tracks, although any other number may be used. These tracks are shown in Fig. 12 as being parallel, and While they may be used, we preferably employ endless tracks.

either circulaigoval, or of other endless forn mation.

Associated with the tracks are third or Contact rails 17, 18, 19, 20,'and 21, nethird or contact rail extending along each track, as clearly shown in -Fig. 12.

Arrangedl above7 the track is a suitable platform 22 supported in any practicable mannerffromfthefground and covering all tracks.- The platform has a slot or opening 23 arranged in a plane centrally'between the rails of-each track, for a purpose to appear hereinafter. The platform also has cross beamsf24, longitudinal beams or joists 25 spaced apart and supported by said cross beams, and flooring or other suitable material 26 kfastened tofsaidlongitudinal beams or joists, the slots or openings 23 in the platform being formed in the iiooring or covering material, as it may be termed.

One or more traveling units 27 are adapted to travel along each track. lVhen more than one is used on a track, they travel at intervals, one in rear of the other, it being understood that the track, when made endless, inay have a lineal measurement of several hundred feet so that several traveling units may be placed in operation at the same time. Each'tr'aveling unit comprises a truck 28 and a passenger mount 29 supported by the truck.

Each truck 28 comprises a frame having side members 30, end members 31, and transverse connector or cross-members 32 spaced apart in convenient manner to rigidly connect the side members y and also to serve as convenient supports for the various mechanisms carried or supported by the truck.

At the front end of the trucln'traction wheels 33 are provided which travel along the track` these wheelsbeing mounted on suitably journaled axles`34.

At therear of the truck, driving ,wheels 35 are provided which travel on the track and `are secured to 'an'l avle 36.

Connecting,theirear-end member 31 with the rearmost transverse connector or cross member 32, are supporting members 37 on which is mounted an electric motor 38, which is preferably a variable-speed motor, and to the shaft thereof a pinion 39 is secured which At the front end of the longitudinallydisposed shaft 47, a bevel gear-wheel 49 is secured, which is in mesh with a bevel gearwheel 5() fastened to a transverse shaft 51 journaled in the lower .ends of spaced standards52 rising from and being` fastened to two of the transverse connecting members 32 bof the truck, said standards having depending portions 53 in which the shaft 51 isjournaled.

When the motor 38 is rotated, the rear or driving wheels 35 are rotated through the medium of the pinion 39 and gear-Wheel 40. At the same time, motion is transmitted from the gear-wheel 41 to the transverse shaft 51 through the medium of the gearwheel 42, transverse shaft 43, bevel gearwheels 45 yand 46, shaft 47, and bevel gearwheels 49 and 50.

Each of thepassenger mounts, which may be of any shape and adapted to carry one ory more passengers. is preferably in the form of a horse, suitabl),r fashioned out of wood or other material, and it is secured to a rod 54` passing downwardly through a rocking guide-member 55. Saidgnide-member has a narrow portion 56 extending through the co-operating slot or opening 23 inthe platform 22. The guide-member has laterally-disposed trunnio'ns 57 journaled for rocking movement in the upper ends of the standards 52, and at its lower end it also has laterally-extending trunnions 58 on which rollers 59 are rotatably mounted, which ride in segmental guide-slots 60 arrangedin the standards mounting the rocking guide-member in the upper endsv of the standards and having a portion thereof extending upwardly through the slot or opening 23 in the platform and a portion extending downwardly a distance between the two standards 52, it may oscillate so thatits lower portion swings rearwardly while its upper portion swings forwardly, and reversely. Y

Secured ,to the,v upper end of each rocking guide-,member.55` are foot rests ,61 on .which By pivotally;

a person seated on the paenger mount or horse may conveniently rest his feet. Sur,- rounding the rod 54, which may be termed a supporting rod, is a weight-carrying spring 62 having the upper end thereof bearing against the passenger mount or horse and the lower end thereof against the upper end of the rocking guide-member 55. The lower end Vof said rod is secured to an eccentric strap 63 which encircles an eccentric 64 fastenedto the transverse shaft 51, which for convenience may be termed an eccentric shaft. The rotation ofthe eccentric sha-ft 51 will cause the eccentric64 to impart van oscilla-ting movement to the lower endof the supporting rod 54, thus causing the upper end thereorto oscillate and have a. component upward and downward movement, which will give the passenger mount or horse a motion simulating the action of a horse when trotting. Asthe weight-carrying spring '62 is quite powerful, it serves to carry the weight of the mount and the passenger thereon, thus relieving the'eccentric 64 of strain and 'allowing it free action without binding'of the eccentric strap 63 thereon. Since the supporting rod 54 is guided in the rocking guide-member 55, said guide-member also rocks on the trunnions or pivots 57 and', therefore, carries the feet of the passenger resting upon the footrests 61 forwardly with the body when thewpassenger' mountor horse rocks. Y

VAt opposite sides of each standard 52, roller-supporting brackets 65 'are suitably secured to the truck,` each bracket having a roller 66 therein. Fastened to the under side of the cross beams 24, directly above the line of travel of said rollers, are hat tracks 67 in contact with which said rollers may travel. However, to eliminate unnecessary resistanceto the travel of the passenger unit, said rollers are slightly spaced from the tracks `67 vand serve merely to preventlifting of the truck'from the track 12, thereby serving as a safety device, and as a guide to prevent the truck leaving the track 12.

Fastenedy to one of the transverse'connector'or cross members 32 of the *trucky ata point between the standards 52 and therearmost transverse'connector member isa vertically-disposed guide 68 in which is arranged for vertical-movement Va brake actuator member 69 pivotally connected at its upper end, as at 70, to a transversely-disposed actuator lever 71, said actuator lever havinga slot 72 thereinv through which the pivot is passed. One end of said actuator lever is pivotally secured to one end of a horizontally-disposed brake lever 7 3 pivotally vattached betweenits ends, as at 74, within a standard `75 fastened to one of the transverse vconnector or'cross members 32.

'v The horizontally-disposed brake lever 73 extends forwardly acon'siderable distance from its pivot 74, and'projects beyond the front end of the truck, as at 76, its front end being forked to receive a roller 77, which is rotatable therein. To retain the front end of said brake lever 73 in lowered position, a retractile spring 78 is provided, one end lthereof being fastened to said b-rake lever and theother end to thefront end member 31 o-f the truck.

The transverse actuator lever 71 extends downwardly from a point beyond its slot 72 and is pivotally secured, as at 79, toy a bracket 8O fastened to the under side of the transverse connector "or cross member 32 having the verticallyedisposed guide 68 secured thereto, it Ibeing directed underneath one of the side members 30 of the frame and having an electric contactl 81 fastened thereto vand insulated therefrom, as at 82, and adapted for co-action with the third rail 17, 18, 19, 20 or 21, as the case may be. At the outer end of said actuator lever a U- shaped supporting member 83 is secured, said supporting vmember having a rollerreceiving frame 84 pivotally secured therein, and a brake roller 85 mounted in said frame, the axis of said brakeroller being at right angles to the pivots of said frame, as best shown in Fig. 5. n

At regular intervals along each track, a brake rail 86 is arranged, which is adapted to be engaged by the brake roller 85 when the latter is depressed. These brake rails are comparatively short and they ends thereof distant from the starting point of the traveling units are loose and capable of being forcedy upwardly. For thispurpose an armature coil 102'may be positioned underneath the'loose end of each brake rail and be provided with a core 103 adapted to move upwardly and downwardly therein, said armature coil having current-conducting wires 104, 105 connected thereto which may be led to within convenient reach of the attendant controlling the currenty through the several motorsofjthe traveling units, or to another attendant. The upper end of the core 103 is adapted to bearagainstthe under side of the loose end of the rail, andwhen the armature coil 102y is energized, the core will bey moved upwardly and cause the loose end of the rail to rise. Each armature coil is individuallyl controlled by an attendantv who willA be in a position to'have a full 'and clear view of'all traveling units in motion, and when he discovers that one unitis too closely 'approaching another on' the same track, will energize the 'armature coil of the brake rail being approached by the traveling unit likely to cause a rear end 'collision and will therefore elevate the loose end of said' rail, with the result' that the brake roller 85 of the approaching traveling unit will be elevate-d` thus lifting the flo-operating contact 81 from' the third rail and cutting off the-power from the `motor on said traveling unit, at thje lsame time stopping said traveling unit by reason of the resistance offered by the elevated brake rail to the further Ytravelingmovement of the brake roller in contact therewith.

As we lay no claim to any particular device or mechanism for lifting the loose ends of the brake rails, we do notdeem it necessary to illustrate anycircuit. in connection withv the armature coil illustrated in F ig. 11, due to the fact that it Ais within the skill of any ordinary electrician to connect the armature coils with a source of electricity .and include in the circuit, suitable s witches or other make-and-break devices for selectively and individually energizing the coils.

Each truck has a yielding bumper 87 at its front end and a similar bumper 88 at its rear end Aalined therewith, and it also has an inclined member or skid 89 secured to the rearend memberl. Therefore, when one truckclosely approaches a preceding ltruck on the. same track, the roller 77` at the. front end `of the horizontally-disposed brake lever 73 will come in contact with the skid. of the preceding truck and ride upwardly on thesame', with the result that the front portion of the brake lever will be elevated,

therebycausing the rear portion to descend.

Thiscauses that portion of the transverse actuator lever between. itspivots and the brake lever to descend, while the portion eX- tending outwardly from its pivot will rise,l

.thereby elevating the Contact 81 from the third rail 20, andbreaking the circuit, which causes the truck to stop.

The actuator member 69. is provided with a pair ofV lugs 90, between which is pivotally connected one end rof a link 91 having its other end secured to a transversely-disposed brake rod 92 whose .ends are slidably arranged in guides 93secured to opposite side frame members 30. Brake shoes 94 yare pro- .vide d, which are held in. line with the rear or driving wheels and which have arms 95 extending therefrom, said arms being securedto the brake rod .92.. lVth the parts in normal position, the link 91 is directed ,upwardly andv forwardly yfrom the brake rod,and when said actuator' member 69 is depressed,this linkmoves yinto or approaches a horizontal position. with the result that the brake rod 92 is moved rearwardly and forces ,the brake shoes 94C in contactwith the rear or driving wheels`35.

The attendant controlling the current to the motors of the several trucks mayvshut off the current completely by means of ak but when sa-idfswitch is closed, current` is de-.

, wise.r

As clearly shown in Fig. 12, the controller 98 has current-conducting wires 106, 107 connected thereto, which lead to double-pole switches 108, and each of said switches has connection wires 109, 110 with one of the rails of a track and with the third rail cooperating therewith; thus, by closing the double-pole switches 108, current will be passed through the motors 38 of the traveling units on the tracks, and by opening any one or more of said switches, the corresponding` motor will be cut out, thereby stopping the traveling unit or units on the track having the open switch 108 connected therewith.

In Fig. 12 the tracks are shown trending iny corresponding directions and the traveling units on the tracks are adapted to be arrangediin line 'transversely or, in what we term racing formation. Therefore, with allfth'e double-pole switches 108 closed and the switch 96 closed, current can be directed to the motors of the traveling units on the several tracks by manipulating the controller 98 or, if desired, one or more of the travcling units may be cut by opening the corresponding switch 108, thus making itnnnecessary to cause any unit to travel along the track'eXcept when occupied by a passenger or passengers.

Having thus described our invention, wh at we claim is:-

1. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of guided traveling units arranged in racing formation, and means for electrically controlling the movements of said traveling units from a common point and for selectively cuttingl out any of said units from said common point.

2. An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality' of correspondingly trending` tracks` a plurality of traveling units on each of said: tracks', means controlled from ar distantpoint for causing movement of said traveling units along said tracks, and means to prevent the traveling units on each track from closely approaching each other.

3. An' amusement apparatus, comprising a track, a plurality of traveling units on said track, a motor on each of said traveling units, a third or contact rail along` said. track serving as a means of conducting current to said trucks, a contact on each truck traveling in engagement with said third or contact rail and having electrical connection with said motor, and means to automatically disengage theA contact of each truck from said third or contact rail when the truck closely approaches a truck in advance thereof.

4; An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality of correspondingly trending tracks, a plurality of trucksadapted for traveling e Increment 0n each. track. arribar..-

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, said guide element and having an eccentric strap surrounding said eccentric, and a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod.

5. In an amusement apparatus, a truck having aA shaft journaled thereon and means for rotating said shaft, an'eccentric on said'y shaft, a vertcally-disposed supporting rod Lguided for combined vertical and oscillating movement and having an eccentric strap surroundmgsaid eccentric, and a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supf a truck, a pair of spaced `standards rising porting rod.

6. 4ln an amusement apparatus, the combination with a traveling truck, of a vertically-clis} )osed supporting rod, a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod, operating means at the lower end of said supporting` rod for causing said rod to reciprocate vertically and simultaneously oscillate, and means for relieving the operating means of the weight of said passenger mount and the passenger thereon.

7. In an amusement apparatus, the combination with a truck, of a vertically-disposed supporting rod, means at the lower end of said rod for reciprocating the same, a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod, and yielding means for supporting the major portion of the weight carried by said passenger mount.

8. An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality of correspondingly trending tracks, a platform above and spaced from said tracks, said platform covering all of said tracks and having slots therein trending in the direction of said tracks, one slot being arranged centrally over each track, a truck arranged for traveling movement on each track, driving wheels on said truck connected by an axle, a motor geared to said axle, passenger mounts above said platform, each mount having a supporting element extending downwardly through a slot of said platform and receiving support from the corresponding truck, and means driven from the driving axle of each truck for giving the supporting element of said truck an upward and downward movement and a component forward and backward movement.

9. An amusement apparatus, comprising a truck having a driving axle at its rear end and driving wheels on said axle, a shaft parallel with said driving axle, a gear wheel on said axle, a counter shaft between said axle and said first-mentioned shaft, a gear wheel on said counter shaft, a longitudinally-disposed shaft'between said first-mentioned shaft and said counter shaft, a. bevel nally-disposed shaft in mesh with the bevel gear-wheel on said counter shaft, 'a bevel gear-wheel at the front end of said longitudinally-disposed shaft, a bevel gear on said first-mentioned shaft in mesh with the bevel gear of said longitudinally-disposed shaft, an eccentric -on said first-mentioned shaft, a supporting rod extending upwardlyy from said eccentric and having an eccentric strap at its lower end surrounding said eccentric, a guide element pivotally secured in a plane above said first-mentioned shaft and having said supporting rod extending therethrough, and a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod. l c y l0, An amusement apparatus, comprising` fromy said truck, a guide element between said standards having laterally-disposed trunnions mounted for rocking movement in the upper ends of said standards, said guide element having laterally-extending trunnions beneath said first-mentioned trunnions guided for movement in said standards, a supporting rod guided for movement in said guide element and having an eccentric strap at its lower end, an eccentric within said strap, means for rotating said eccentric, and a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod.

11. An amusement apparatus, comprising a platform having a slot arranged lengthwise therein, a truck beneath said platform having a pair of spaced standards rising therefrom, said standards being provided with segmental guide slots a distance from their upper ends, a guide element arranged for oscillating movement and having laterally-disposed trunnions between its ends journaled in the upper .ends of said standards, said guide element extending upwardly through the slot of said platform and having laterally-disposed trunnions at its lower ends, rollers on said trunnions guided in the segmental slots of said standards, foot rests secured to the upper end of said guide element and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, a supporting rod guided for movement in said guide element and having an eccentric strap at its lower end, an ec'- centric within said eccentric strap, means for rotating said eccentric, and a passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod.

12. An amusement apparatus, comprising a platform having a slot arranged lengthwise therein, a truck guided for traveling movement beneath said platform and having aguide element pivotally secured between its ends and extending upwardly through said slot, a supporting rod slidable `'said guide element, ay passenger mount secured to the upper end of said supporting rod, a spring surrounding said supporting 'rod and bearing with its ripper end, against said passenger inount'and with its lower end against the upper end ofsaid guide element,

' and means for giving said supporting rod a combined oscillating and vertical reciprocating movement whereby 1t is moved within saidguideelement and causes said guide element'to oscillate. l

13. An amusement apparatus, comprising a truck adapted for movement over a predetermined course, aVs'haft on said truck, means for rotating said shaft,y an eccentric for relievingy said eccentricof the weight of lsaid mount and the passenger carried thereby.

A14. AAn amusement' apparatus, comprising a plurality of correspondingly trending tracks, a third rail co-eXtensive with each track, a traveling unit on each track, a motor on each traveling unit, a contact on each traveling unit movable into engagement With or out of engagement from its co-operating third rail and being in electrical connection with its co-operating motor, a source of electrical energy, electrical connections between said source or electrical energy and said motors and third rails, means for placing all or said vmotors into action or out of action, means, to selectively break connection between any or said motors and said source of electrical energy, and means to automatically move said contacts ont of engagement with their co-operating third rails when the traveling units carrying the same come in Contact with traveling units ahead.

In testimony whereof We afix our signa tures.

PETER A. LALLE. CLAUDE E. EowLEE. 

